Process of purifying zirconium ores.



I I No Drawing.

' processes of purifying zirconium ores have UNITED .STATESPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. LovnMAN, or LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNQR,"BY Mns n ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INc., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF PURIFYING ZIRCONIUM ORES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. LovEMAN,

State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Processes of Purifying Zirconium Ores, of which the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

Zirconium oxidandother compounds of zirconium find extensiveuse in the various industries, such as the manufacturing of arc lamp electrodes and the enameling industry; but all of these require that the zirconium compound be in a substantially pure condition. This precludes the use of any natural zirconium product and the prior been so unsatisfactory that there have been numerous attempts to improve on these to the extent Where the purification of the ore could be carried out in a practical, .commercial: way. As far as I know, however, no one prior to my invention had discovered a successful Way of doing this. The manner in which I accomplish the'desired result will I now be explained. .v

The impure zirconium oxid, contammg the oxid of silicon, titanium, iron and aluminum, is crushedto a fine powder. and

fused with sodium carbonate by heating to.

about 1000 C. 1 h-is fusion brings about the following reactions The fused mass after cooling is pulverized and placed with water into a suitable container through which steam is bubbled. This part of the process dissolves out the salts of aluminum and silicon, leaving be hind the insoluble salts of zirconium, titanium and iron.

After the soluble salts have been leached y 'peated treatment'with hydrochloric acid and out the insoluble salts are Washed with water and treated with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Specificatiozf of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed August 18, 1915. Serial N 0. 46,041.

compounds in accordance with the followin equations tion.

A low proportionof sodium-carbonate is insuflicient to accomplish the desired result and the best proportion that I have found is 8 parts of sodium carbonate to 1 part of ore. Lower proportions of carbonate to ore of course can be used if an impure product is not objectionable, but proportions below 6 to 1 are entirely unsatisfactory for the removal of silica. The fusion should be continued for about'two hours if a very pure product is desired, for with a shorter period of fusion a considerable part of the alumina and silica are left in the fused mass.

The finerthe condition of the impure ore, the better will be the results obtained by the sodium carbonate fusion, and I have found that it is desirable to reduce the ore to a point where it will pass through a hun' dred mesh screen., (Opening of about 0.0055 inches.)

Of course the amount of impurities leftwashing, the purer the resulting product will be. I After} the zirconium oxid resulting from the calcinationis analyzed-it has been foundto contain only 115% silica, 20% titanium and ..10% iron? oxi'd.. For most uses this would be considered a practically pure zirconiumoxid, but ifa still purer product is desired it {can be obtained by thesame process with 'a greater period of fusion and rewashing with water, A

My process is not tobe limited to the exact materials specified, as potassium. car-' honate might he employed, and other acids, such as sulfuric, might he substituted ior the hydrochloric acid.

The -orocess can also be used to obtain pure zirconium oxid from the mineral Zirlzon which is crude Zirconium silicate. By fusing zirlron With an excess of sodium carbonate, the silica may be separated out from the Zirconium salt, but in order to get a very pure product I have found that it is necessary to fuse twice With sodium carhonate. In order to remove the iron and titanium the residue may he treated with hydrochloric acid as previously outlined.

laying described my invention, What claim is:

1. The process of silica from impure consists in fusing the ores honate in a ratio greater than 1 to 6, and

out the resu ting soluble salts The roc removing silica removing alumina and Zirconium ores, which with sodium carttiitt alumina from crude zirconium ores, Which consists in crushing the ores, fusing with sodium carbonate in the ratio of 1 to 8, crushing the fused mass when cold, and leaching With hot Water,

3. The process of purifying crude Zirconium ores, which consists in' fusing in an excess of sodium carbonate, crushing the fused mass, leaching out the soluble salts, treating the residue With dilute hydrochloric acid, Washing and filtering, and then calcining the residue.

The process or? purifying crude zirco- 3 niuin ores, Which consists in crushing the same, fusing with sodium carbonate in a ratio greater than 1 to 6, crushing the fused mass, Washing out the soluble salts, treating the residue with dilute hydrochloric acid, filtering and calcining the residue.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signatue.

WILillii no. LOVED/IAN. 

